Thursday, January 17, 2013

Food: Cazba

Hey guys! Today I wanna tell you a little bit about a traditional Iranian dish (and the best one, hands down). I don't know how many of you have had access to an Iranian community but if you ever get the chance to go on a picnic, this will be the highlight of your outing: Cheloh Kebab or Soltani. In restaurants, it's a little hit or miss but in Vancouver there's an emerging superstar for this.

Cazba in 132 West 16 Street North Vancouver
Cazba is the best place I've found yet, and it's about $10 for this whole plate! It is MASSIVE.

Now then, I have to describe this.... after picture:

Okay so the rice is just white basmati rice with saffron. The salad is just lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber with ranch (I think) and it's "white" food - Persians don't really have salads.

The meat is what we're talking about. It's a kebab made of ground beef and onions, and the soltani (underneath) is non-ground kebab. If it's made well, it should all be really tender and flavourful. Traditionally it's served with a grilled tomato, which should be mush that you mix in with the rice.

Persians don't eat with a knife and fork, you get a knife and a spoon. The spoon you hold with your fork-hand and the fork is just to help separate bits. Most food is so soft that the spoon will cut right through it, and that's how that meat should be. You're also supposed to fit a little bit of everything onto your spoon - a piece of meat, some rice and some tomato mush - all at once.

Have you guys tried this? What did you think? If any of you end up in Vancouver, let's go out!